Fire fighting apparatus or the like having de-icing means



Nov. 20, 1962 D. E. BRODERSON ETAL 3, 6

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE HAVING DE-ICING MEANS Filed Aug. 1,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y INVENTORS. Dean 5. Erode/"son BY Kenne Th H.Davidson Nov. 20, 1962 D. E. BRODERSON ETAL 3,064,754

FIRE FIGHTING APPARATUS OR THE LIKE HAVING DE-ICING MEANS Filed Aug. 1,1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. Dean Bmde/ son BY Kennefh H. Davidson3,664,754 FlRE FIGHTING APPARATUS (DR THE LEGS HAVING DE-TQKNG MEANSDean E. Broderson and Kenneth H. Davidson, Kansas City, Mo., assignorsto Pitman Manufacturing Company, Grandview, Me a corporation of MissouriFiled Aug. 1, 1%"), Ser. No. 4 6.556 4 Claims. (Ci. 1S22) The presentinvention relates to a structural unit and more particularly to astructural unit in which means are provided in the unit for heating thesame to prevent the formation of ice thereon.

The present invention proposes to provide for a structural unit such asa boom or the like having at least one member movable relative thereto,means in the structural unit for heating a fluid and directing the fluidin a flow through the unit, thereby heating the unit against theformation of ice thereon when the unit is used in conjunction with awater spraying device or the like or when the unit is used inatmospheric conditions such that moisture is deposited thereon. It isfurther proposed to provide means for directing the fluid flow over themember movable relative to the unit, whereby the movable member isheated against the formation of ice thereon so that it is capable ofcontinuing to move and operate in spite of" the climatic conditions ofcold.

While the present invention will be described in its preferredembodiment for use with the boom of a piece of fire fighting apparatusor the like, it should be noted that the same structure could easily beused in many other applications, for instance, by utility company truckscustomarily used for replacing the lamps in street lighting systems andthe like.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide in astructural unit means for directing a flow of heated fluid therethroughwhereby the unit is warmed against the formation of ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in astructural unit having at least one member relatively movable withrespect to another means for directing a flow of heated fluid throughthe unit and particularly upon the relatively movable member, wherebythe entire unit and the movable member are heated against the formationof ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in astructural unit such as a boom means for directing a flow of heatedfluid through the boom to heat the same against the formation of icethereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a structuralunit such as a boom having a pair of boom members vertically extendiblemeans for directing a flow of heated fluid through both of the boommembers to heat the members against the formation of ice thereon.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in astructural unit having a boom of the type described above wherein thefurthermost extendible member has a coupling relatively movable to thesecond boom member connected at the end of the latter to support abasket or the like, means for directing a flow of heated fluid throughthe boom members and over the coupling member whereby the boom andcoupling are heated against the formation of ice thereon.

Further objects and advantages inherent in the structure of the presentinvention will become obvious as the description of this inventionproceeds and are intended to be included in the scope of the appendedclaims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of fire apparatus embodying featuresof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the boomapparatus shown in FIG. 1 with portions broken away to show details ofconstruction;

FIG. 3 is a transverse cross section through a portion of the boomstructure in FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the boom support shownin FIG. 2 looking at the support from the opposite side.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 there is showna piece of fire fighting apparatus indicated generally by the numeral10. The fire fighting apparatus could be of any desirable kind but is inthis particular case supplied with a pumper for enabling the unit tospray water at a fire location and for such reason the apparatus may befurther referred to in this specification as a pumper.

Pumper it} has a rear carrying portion 12 upon which is mounted a boomsupport indicated generally by the numeral 14. A vertically extendibleboom 16 is mounted upon the support 14 and consists of'a pair ofelongated boom members 18 and 2t interconnected at one end of each by apivotal coupling member 22. At the end of boom member 263 removed fromcoupling 22 there is pivotally supported a cage or basket 24 withinwhich a man may be supported and raised or lowered by the boom structuredescribed when desired.

In view of the fact that the pumper It} is a piece of fire fightingequipment, a water conduit indicated generally by the number 26 is shownextending from the support 14 longitudinally along the first boom member18 and second boom member 20 and terminating in a nozzle 28 adjacent tothe cage 24.

Referring more specifically now to FIGS. 2 through 4,

' it will be seen that support 14 consists primarily of a platform 30rotatably mounted on a pivot 32 which is in turn journaled in the rearportion 12 of the fire apparatus 10. Extending upwardly from platform3t) are a pair of generally triangular side plates 34 and 36 which areparallel and spaced from each other. A pivot pin 38 is journaled in theside members 34 and 36 and extends therebetween near the apexes of theplates 34 and 36. First boom member 18 has a bearing member therein (notshown) which is adapted to fit over the pivot pin 38 whereby the boommember 18 may be pivotally mounted on the support 14.

A pair of vertically spaced parallel horizontal support members extendtransversely between side plates 34 and 36 and are identified by thenumbers 40 and 42.

A gas-burning heater identified generally by the numeral 44 is shownmounted on the outwardly facing surface of side plate 36, while a blower91 is mounted on heater 44 for forcing artificial currents of airtherethrough. Heater 44 may be operated from the same fuel source thatis provided for the engine of vehicle 10. A conduit 46 extends outwardlyfrom one end of heater 44 and is open to atmosphere at the end thereofindicated by the number 48. A hydraulic ram indicated by the numeral 50is pivotally supported from support 14 and extends therefrom in the samedirection as the boom member 18. The hydraulic ram 50 is of a well-knownvariety and therefore need not further be described. Hydraulic ram 50has a piston rod 52 extending therefrom and terminating in a pivotableconnection 54 with the underside of boom 18. It can now be seen thatboom member 18 can be raised from a position relatively horizontal withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the pumper It to the limits of thecapabilities of the hydraulic ram Boom member 13 can be of anywell-known variety and is indicated in FIG. 2 as being an elongatedhollow Patented Nov. 29, 1962 member being generally square orrectangular in cross section.

A passageway is provided through the boom member comprising a heaterconduit 56 extending longitudinally through'the hollow center portion ofboom member 18 and approximately coextensive therewith. Conduit 46 'ofheater 44 is connected in any conventional manner (not shown)- withconduit 56, thereby permitting communication of heated fluid from heater44 through conduit 46 to heater conduit 56. It is of course realizedthat the coupling between conduit 56 and 46 must be flexible orpivotable to permit movement of boom member 18.

The second boom member is pivotally coupled to first boom member 18 bycoupling 22 as previously described at the end of boom member 18 remotefrom support 14 and extends back over the first member 18 in overlyingrelationship thereto. The construction is such that desirably secondboom member 20 may be pivoted to'a generally horizontal position inwhich it rests upon the upper surface of boom member 18 when theapparatus is not used. A second hydraulic ram 57 is pivotally mountedupon the upper surface of boom 18 as indicated at 58 and the piston rod60 thereof extending from ram 57 terminates in a pivotal coupling 62connected to links 64 and 66. Link 64 is pivotally joined to boom member20and link 66 is pivotally connected to boom member 18. The combinationof link 64 and 66 and the boom members 20 and 18 forms a toggle linkmechanism operable by the hydraulic ram 57 to pivotally raise and lowerboom member 20 relative to member 18.

It will be noted that in order to accommodate the relative pivotalmovement of members 18 and 20 about pivot coupling 22 a pair of flexiblehoses 68 and 70 are provided, hose 68 being connected to the waterconduit indicated generally by the number 26 while hose 70 constitutes aflexible continuation of conduit 56.

Secondbo'om'member 20 is shown in FIG. 2 as being hollow and generallyrectangular in cross section at the end thereof remote from pivotalcoupling 22. However, due to the presence of hydraulic ram 57, certainmodifications' are required in the remaining construction of boom member20 and a typical cross section of the modification is shown in FIG. 3and will be described. Boom member 20 consists of a pair of elongated,parallel, spaced side walls 69 and 71 having parallel upper margins 72and 74 and parallel lower margins 76 and 78. 'An elongated top wall 80joins the parallel upper margins 72 and 74 of side walls 69' and 71along the entire length thereof. A bottom wall 82 joins side walls 69and 71 intermediate their respective top and bottom margins 72 and 76and 74 and 78' and is spaced below top wall 80in varying amountsthroughout its-length. The inner'surfaces of walls 69 and 71, top 80 andbottom 82 define a hollow interior passageway throughout the length ofsecond boom member 20, and the inner surfaces of sides 69 and 71 and thebottom surface of bottom 82 define a receptacle within which hydraulicram 57 and its associated link structure may be received when secondboom member 20 is loweredand resting upon first boom member 18.

Hose 70 which'isthe flexible extension of conduit 56 terminates in anorifice 84 received within the boom member 20 at the rear of thepassageway already defined.

A pair of cars 86, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings,extend from the ends of the side walls 69 and 71 ofsecond boom member 20at the end remote from pivotal coupling 22. Each of the cars 86 has anaperture 88 proximal'to the outer margin thereof which is axiallyaligned and adapted to receive the pivot pin of an implement such as acage or basket 24 forpivotal connection with the outer extremity of boommember 20. It will be noted that there is no end plate at the extremityof boom member 20 remote from coupling 22 so that fluid contained withinthe passageway already defined may be discharged through a dischargeoutlet 90 over the cars 86 and apertures 88 and the pin of the Theoperation of the boom has been indicated'by the structural descriptionand as the operation forms no part of the present invention it need notfurther be explained in this application. Operation of gas heater 44 andblower 91 causes hot air to be forced through conduits 46, 56,:

78 and the passageway defined by walls 69, 71, and 82 with such hot airfinally being directed outwardly through discharge outlet 90. Air fromthe ambient atmosphere is drawn in through the inlet opening 48 so thata constant supply is always available. As the heated air flows upwardlythrough the conduits the boom members are warmed by the flowtherethrough to preclude the formation of ice thereon and theoutward'flow through discharge outlet over the pivotal connection formedby cars 86, apertures 88,implement 24 and the pivot pin thereof receivedin apertures 88 will be heated by the flow directed thereover againstthe formation of ice thereon. where water is being sprayed onsurrounding objects during cold weather and would normally freeze on theapparatus, it should also be noted that the structure described andillustrated herein is similarly useful where such structure does notcontain its own means for spray-V ing water, for example as protectionagainst freezing of rain or snow falling on to the unit.

Having therefore described the embodiment of the present invention itcan be seen that all of the objects of the application are obtained bythe structure hereinabove set forth and it can be further seen thatvarious modifications or changes may be made in the structure describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention orthe scope of theappended claims.

Having thus described theinvention what is claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structural unit, first and second elongated boom members, andmeans pivotally interconnecting said first and second boom members atproximal ends thereof; a. conduit extending longitudinally through saidfirst'boom member; a passageway extending longitudinally through saidsecond boom member; a flexible hose connected at one end thereof to saidconduit atthe proximal end'of said first boom and terminating in anorifice at the opposite end thereof, said orifice being connected tosaid passageway at the proximal end of said second boom member, saidconduit having an inlet open to the atmosphere at the end thereof remotefrom said proximal end thereof, said passageway having a discharge opento the atmosphere at the end thereof remote 1 from said proximal endthereof; a platform pivotally. coupledto said second boom member at theend thereof remote from said proximal end thereof; a heater within saidconduit adjacent said inlet for heating the air in said conduit; and ablower coupled with said conduit for drawing-cool into said inlet forheating by said heater and directing its flowthereby successivelythrough said conduit, said hose, 7

said passageway and out said discharge, said discharge being positionedto direct said flow. of heated fluid over the zone of pivotal couplingof said platform'and said second boom member, whereby. fluid flowingthrough said second boom member heats the same against formation of icethereon, and fluid flowing over said zone of coupling heats the latteragainst the formation of ice thereon.

, 2. The structural'unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondboom member includes a pair 'of spaced, parallel, elongated side wallshaving parallel top and bottom margins; an elongated top wall joiningsaid top margins of said side walls; and an elongated bottom wall spacedbelow said top wall and joining the side walls intermediate the top andbottom margins thereof, said side walls, top wall and bottom walldefining a passageway extending longitudinally through said boom member.

3. In a structural unit, a swingable boom including relatively shiftablefirst andsecond elongated boom members each having a passagewayextending longitudinally therethrough and in thermal interchangerelationship therewith; means on said members at proximal ends Althoughuseful in fire fighting apparatus thereof for pivotally interconnectingsaid members; flexible coupling means for placing one of saidpassageways in fluid communication with the other of said passageways;structure pivotally coupled with one of said boom members at the endthereof opposite to said proximal end; means coupled with the other ofsaid boom members within the passageway thereof for directing a flow ofheated fluid through said passageways and said flexible coupling meanstoward said one end of said one boom member, there being means in thepassageway of said one 10 boom member adjacent said one end thereof fordischarging heated fluid over the junction of said structure and saidone boom member, whereby said boom members and said junction are heatedto prevent the formation of ice thereon.

4. In a structural unit, a swingable boom having a passageway providedwith an inlet and a discharge open to the atmosphere, said passagewayextending longitudinally of said boom and being in thermal interchangerelationship therewith; structure pivotally coupled with the boom at theend thereof adjacent said discharge; a heater within the passagewayadjacent the inlet thereof for heating air passing into said passageway;a blower coupled with said passageway for directing air into said inletand 5 expelling Warm air from said discharge to thereby heat said boomand prevent the formation of ice thereon; and means in said passagewayadjacent said discharge for directing heated air over the junction ofsaid structure and said boom to thereby heat said junction and preventthe formation of ice thereon.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

